- Source: Chito Santa Romana
Jose Santiago "Chito" Santa Romana (January 15, 1948 – April 19, 2022), was a Philippine journalist and diplomat who served as that country's ambassador to China.
Early life
Born in Manila, Romana was the grandson of Senator Santiago Lucero, for whom he was named.
Activism and exile
As a young man, Romana studied at De La Salle University and was active in the anti-government demonstrations known as the "First Quarter Storm". In 1971, as a student, he visited the People's Republic of China as the head of a Philippine youth delegation. However, during this period, the then Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos began to suppress the Philippine communists, and Romana was forced to stay in China. After that, Romana studied at the Beijing Language Institute (now Beijing Language and Culture University) and later became a translation editor.
In 1987, Romana went to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States to pursue a master's degree in international relations. After graduation, due to the continued instability in the Philippines, Romana returned to China. From 1989 to 2010, Romana served as a long-term reporter for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in Beijing. In 2011, Romana returned to the Philippines after 40 years and joined the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement in 2012.
Ambassador to China
On September 28, 2016, Romana was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippine Ambassador to China, with concurrent accreditation to North Korea and Mongolia. Romana presented his credentials in March of the following year. He "played a key role in repairing once-tattered bilateral relations".
Death
On April 18, 2022, Romana died of illness while undergoing quarantine for COVID-19 in Huangshan, Anhui Province while serving as the ambassador to China, at the age of 74. After his death, he was described as "an old friend of the Chinese people".
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Vilma Santos
- Chito Santa Romana
- Chito
- Romana (name)
- Santiago Lucero (senator)
- Luis Antonio Tagle
- Yamashita's gold
- List of Philippine films of the 2000s
- List of reality television show franchises (H–Z)
- List of Philippine films of the 1950s
- List of Regal Entertainment films
